Collapsible tent



Jan. 24, 1939. J. A AMS 2,144,747

COLLAPS I BLE TENT Filed July 16, 1957 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 3mm ffokrzQAdams Jan. 24, 1939;

J. ADAMS 2,144,747

COLLAPS IBLE TEN T Filed July 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 swam/tot =f0 /zrz QAdams Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tent structures of the type used in the capacity of cemetery chapels. In this field, the problem of constructing a chapel tent which will accommodate a. suificient number of persons and yet not be too bulky or cumbersome to handle has always been present. It has also been a problem to construct a tent which will withstand severe wind storms without danger of collapsing.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a cemetery chapel tent which can be made of a size sufiiciently large to accommodate a predetermined number of people but will not be inconvenient to assemble, dismantle and transport.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tent having a rounded top portion which will convey the impression that the interior of the tent is much larger than it actually is. The rounded top also improves the external appearance of the chapel. By providing the tent with the rounded top portion, less surface is provided for the wind to engage and consequently the tent will better withstand high winds.

With the above objects in view as well as others which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts more particularly set forth in the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled chapel tent frame formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the upper portion of the tent frame shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the tent, the plane of this section being indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line V--V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line VIVI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view partly in section of a fitting used in the top framework of the tent;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a slightly modified type of top frame,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates the framework of the tent in its entirety. This framework includes a plurality of corner posts 2 which are provided at their lower ends with flange members 3. The flange members are perforated to receive stakes 4 tosecure the posts to the ground surface. At the upper end, each corner post removably supports a tri-socketed corner fitting 5. The fittings 5 are each formed to include angularly directed branches having sockets for the reception of horizontally and laterally directed side rail sections 6. The adjacent ends of the side rail sections are secured together through the use of coupling members I, one of the side rail sections being rigidly secured to the coupling member by means of rivets 8. The other side rail section is removably secured to the coupling by means of a hand screw 9. Each of the coupling members is provided with a laterally extending branch ill provided with a socket II to receive the outer ends of longitudinally and transversely extending intermediate and brace rails l2 and i3, respectively.

The intermediate rails are arcuate in shape and are made sectional to facilitate the handling thereof when the tent is dismantled. A crossshaped fitting I4 is employed to connect the adjacent ends of the intermediate rail sections and the longitudinal branches of the crossshaped fittings are connected with the brace rails which extend between adjacent intermediate rails and laterally extending side rails.

Certain of the longitudinally extending branches I5 of the cross-shaped fittings are directed downwardly at a slight angle to provide inclined cover supports at the ends of the top portion of the frame structure. Between the coupling members and the corner fittings, the longitudinally extending side rails are provided with sleeve members 16 which also are formed to include laterally directed branches for connection with certain of the intermediate rails. members are secured in their positions of longitudinal adjustment by hand screws H. The side rails are also provided with spaced collars l8 secured in their adjusted positions by thumb screws 19. directed lug 29 which is adapted to be positioned in eyelets formed in the tent cover (not shown). By rotating the collar members, the tent cover can be tightened and secured in the tightened condition through the use of the thumb 50 screws l9.

By reason of this frame construction, the tent may be readily assembled or dismantled and when in assembled relationship, will be quite rigid.

The sleeve These collars include a laterally In the form shown in Fig. 8, the brace rails I3a extend from the corner fittings 5a to the ends of a short longitudinally extending center rail 2| This form of tent frame will increase rigidity and provide the tent with the same external shape as in the preferred form. When the cover is in an applied position, a tent having a rounded top portion is provided which has an improved appearance and will offer less surface to be engaged by air currents.

While I have shown and described the tent structure in its preferred forms, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a collapsible tent structure, a frame for the top thereof, comprising a plurality of corner fittings having angularly disposed branches, sectional longitudinally and transversely extending side rails having their ends connected with the branches of said corner fittings, coupling members uniting the adjacent ends of said side rail sections, a laterally extending branch provided on each of said coupling members, sectional transversely extending arched intermediate rails connected with the laterally extending branches on certain of said coupling members, a cross-shaped fitting uniting the adjoining ends of said arched intermediate rail sections, and sectional brace rails extending between adjacent arched rails and side rails, the ends of said brace rails being connected with said cross-shaped fittings and the lateral branches of the remaining coupling members.

2. In a collapsible tent structure, a framework comprising a plurality of corner posts, a corner fitting provided in the upper end of each of said posts, each of said fittings being formed to include a pair of horizontally extending sockets disposed at an angle of 90 to one another, a plurality of side rail sections each having one end positioned in a horizontal socket in said corner fittings, a plurality of coupling members connecting the free ends of said side rail sections to form a rectangle, sleeve members positioned on the rail sections on two opposed sides of said rectangle, each of said sleeves and couplings having a laterally and upwardly extending socketed branch, a brace rail extending parallel to the side rails provided with the sleeve members in a plane spaced thereabove, a plurality of cross-shaped fittings carried by said brace rail, and a plurality of inwardly and upwardly extending brace members connected with said cross fittings and the lateral branches on said coupling and sleeve members, said brace members providing the sole bracing means between the side rails of said rectangle.

3. In a collapsible tent structure, a framework comprising a plurality of corner posts, a fitting having a pair of horizontally extending angularly related sockets carried by each of said posts, a plurality of side and end rail sections each having one end positioned in a socket in said fittings, coupling members joining the free ends of said rail sections to form a rectangular frame, each of said coupling members being provided with an inwardly directed socket, sleeve members adjustably carried by said side rail sections between said fi tings and said couplings, said sleeve members bein provided with. sockets opening toward the interior of said rectangular frame, transversely extendin intermediate rail sections each having one end positioned in a socket in said couplings and sleeves, said intermediate rail sections being arcuate, cross-shaped fittings uniting the free ends of corresponding intermediate rail sections, and brace rail sections extending between adjacent transversely extending rails, said brace rail sections having their ends connected with said cross-shaped fittings and the couplings between said end rail sections.

JOHN Q. ADAMS. 

